The 1st chakra is the base or root chakra located in the region between the genitals and the anus. It opens downwards. It is related to the adrenal glands (although many relate them to the 2nd or 3rd chakras) that play a key role in survival as they trigger the fight or flee reaction. It is taught in Ayurveda that the kundalini energy lies coiled in the root chakra ready to uncoil and bring man to his highest spiritual potential as it links up to the crown chakra.
Color: red
Sensorial function: smell
Symbol: four-petaled lotus
Fundamental principle: the primal energy to live and to survive sustained by the tribal or group energy to which we belong (e. g. family, nation, organization)
Physical organs: everything that is hard such as the spinal cord, bones, teeth and nails; everything that is near such as the anus, rectum, large intestine, prostate; also the blood and cellular structure
Endocrine gland: the adrenals which secrete adrenalin whose functions it is to adapt the body to urgent needs such as survival, in particular; adrenals also play a dominant role in body temperature homeostasis.
Purpose and function: To translate life force into the physiological activities needed for survival. The first chakra is the primary source of all aspects of vital energy: physical, sexual, mental, and emotional. The healthy functioning of this chakra is a precondition to living a healthy life. It connects us to the physical world as well as the groups to which we belong each with their particular tribal values and beliefs. The telluric (earth) energies penetrate through this chakra. It is how we get grounded and in contact with the spirit of Mother Earth. It moves us to attain material security and ensure the survival of the species and of the tribe through the sexual urge of the this chakra.of our limitations produces anguish and an incapacity to experience a sense of security and of well-being. We live by the beliefs and values of the groups we belong to rather than by our individual beliefs.
Harmonious functioning: If the root chakra is open, meaning it has no energetic blockage, and if it works harmoniously with the other chakras, we will feel a deep and personal tie with the Earth and its creatures and with all the vital force we require. This function is stabilizing and gives us the comfortable feeling of belonging and of being integrated with our groups.
Disharmonious functioning: If the first chakra is out of balance our thoughts and our actions are dominated by an obsession to possess and to achieve material gain or it will be dominated by a drive for excessive sensual stimulation and pleasure. All we will want is immediate gratification without thinking about potential consequences. We will have resistance to give and to receive freely. Focused on our own needs, we will not consider the needs of others and may even ignore the needs of our own body. We will lack confidence and fear of our limitations will provoke anguish within us and an incapacity to experience a sense of security and well-being. We live by the beliefs and values of the groups we belong to rather than by our own individual beliefs.
Dysfunction: When the root chakra is blocked our constitution becomes weakened and we lack both physical and psychological resiliency. We feel constantly insecure and reluctant to tend to our basic needs in life. We will often express anger and violence with dysfunction of the root chakra. We will not have the courage to assert ourselves and life on earth feels a constant burden.
